Dent v. Farmers Ins. Co.
Kathleen Dent worked for Farmers Insurance Group of Companies as an agent. Farmers fired Dent. Dent sued Farmers, related entities, and individual defendants (Tony Nunes, Paul Crosetti, Laura Day, and Ron Coble) for, among other things, promissory fraud, breach of contract, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. A jury found in Dents favor on the fraud claims, but against her on the contractual claims. The jury also awarded Dent punitive damages. Farmers, Day, and Crosetti now appeal, contending that the evidence is insufficient to support liability and damages on the fraud claims, including punitive damages. Dent cross-appeals, requesting that the judgment on the contract claims be reversed if the judgment on the fraud claims is reversed.
Court hold that there is insufficient evidence of fraud, namely, there is insufficient evidence that any of the alleged misrepresentations were fraudulent. We therefore reverse the judgment in Dents favor on the claims for intentional and negligent misrepresentation causes of action. But because the special verdict form with respect to the breach of contract claim was defective, Court reverse the judgment in Farmerss favor on that claim and remand for further proceedings. Court otherwise affirm the judgment.
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